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AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - A UT grad student claims she was targeted by a state senator.
Documents obtained through an “open records request" appears to show the senator did not fully cooperate with the investigation and recognizes that they do not have the authority to make him do so.
In the end the university could not confirm if the senator sent those messages in the first place.
An open records request filed by Fox-7 Austin news, shows suggestive texts messages and photos sent to a UT grad student from a person saying "This is Charles."
According to the university's final investigative report, the student and senator Charles Schwertner met at a university-affiliated event.
LinkedIn records show the two exchanged several messages back in May. The student was curious about the senator's professional career and an upcoming conference.
Things took a turn in August, when someone using Charles Schwertner's account asked for the student's number. The student received inappropriate messages and photos from a number saying
"sorry. I really just wanted to…..”
"If you'd like to still sit in the audience then by all means come," the text said referencing the LinkedIn conversation.
"This is Charles"
"Send a pic?"
"I’ll send you one"
"hello? Want to just use LinkedIn? Or my main cell?"
"It's me want me to prove?"
"and I have more proof of life ;)"
A photo of male genitalia was also included in the messages.
The student tried ending the conversation writing:
"Please stop, this is unprofessional. I'm a student interested in learning about health care policy. These advances are unwanted." The student also received a message on linked in from someone on Schwertner's account asking "I hope you're getting the texts I sent you."
The student screen grabbed the messages and reported the state senator to university officials to see if he violated title IX or UT policy.
The final report from the investigation revealed: the number matches one hand-written on the state senator's business card, and not the senator's personal cell number. Further investigating found the number was purchased through an app called "hushed" which allows users to buy a private number and not reveal their personal cell phone number.
Schwertner's attorneys claim the senator shared his hushed and LinkedIn username and password with a third person he knows but won't identify.
His attorney's claim that third person sent the messages and photos without Schwetner's knowledge. The final report says the senator refused to answer five written questions that were designed to bring clarity to the investigation.
Based on the evidence available, the university said it did not find evidence to support any violation of title ix or university policy.
With the case closed, Senator Charles Schwertner released this statement.
"I do not condone sexual misconduct of any kind. The university of Texas has closed their investigation because I did not send the offensive text messages in question. I appreciate the steadfast support of my family, friends, and the voters who believed in and reelected me just weeks ago. This unfortunate matter is now closed. Finally, I thank god for the strength he has graced with me during this time."
This unnamed third person has allegedly come forward to an attorney, acknowledging his or her responsibility and signed an affidavit attesting to the truth.
In the final report, the university recognizes there's no way to prove whether that person is telling the truth. Attorneys for Schwertner arranged for the senator to take a lie detector test, which they claim, proved the senator was telling the truth and that he did not send any inappropriate messages.